SPENCE LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN TO GET PARENTS TO ‘PLAY BY THE RULES’
Published Tuesday, 16 October, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Sport Minister Judy Spence has launched a series of television advertisements, aimed at stamping out side-line abuse and bad sportsmanship in junior sport.
The ads promoting the website ‘Play by the Rules’, which is supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation, Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission, the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian and the Australian Sports Commission, will begin airing on televisions across Queensland tonight.
“These new ‘Play by the Rules’ advertisements send a clear message to parents: Relax, sport should be fun,” Ms Spence said.
“Unfortunately, we continue to witness inappropriate incidents at junior sporting matches, including violence, racism, verbal abuse towards referees and players, win-at-all-cost mentalities from coaches and overbearing pressure from parents on the sidelines.
“The launch of these ads today, is the last layer in a campaign, aimed at discouraging over-coaching and putting a stop to unrealistic expectations being placed on our children.
“Aggressive or negative behaviour on the sports field can easily overflow into other areas of a child’s life – and with the current attention on the prevalence of youth violence, it is essential we look at all ways to prevent such negative behaviour.”
Ms Spence said the state government has provided more than $25,000 for the ‘Play by the Rules’ initiative, including the website which provides valuable information and advice for local sporting clubs.
“We must help kids to be active, so we can fight rising obesity rates and create a lifelong passion for sport and recreation,” Ms Spence said.
“By setting the right examples about enjoying sport and having fun, we can increase the rates of participation among our young athletes – and that is what this campaign is all about.”
CEO of the Australian Sports Commission, Mark Peters, said the Community Service Announcements deliver excellent messages about parental behaviour at kids’ junior sport matches.
“These advertisements cleverly reverse the child and parent roles and are designed to raise awareness and promote discussion about supportive and constructive behaviour in sport,” Mr Peters said.
Acting Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Neroli Holmes, said in the last 12 months the ‘Play by the Rules’ website has received 3.5 million hits, which demonstrates its value in the community.
“This website plays an important role in providing information and advice for sporting clubs about a range of serious issues including child protection, inappropriate touching of athletes, abuse of referees, abusive coaches and parents, racism and dealing with complaints,” Ms Holmes said.
“I believe the message is starting to get out there and more than five thousand sporting clubs have registered to complete on-line-learning programs.”
‘Play by the Rules’ is supported by the Queensland government’s ‘True Sport Lives Here’ program, which helps local sporting clubs promote sportsmanship and good behaviour.
Rugby league legend, Steve Renouf, who is an ambassador for the True Sport program, said players and parents needed to clean up their acts.
“I believe it is important to be a good role model and lead by example. I have five children and would never pressure them to succeed or to follow in my footsteps,” Steve said.
“I want them to play sport because of their love for the game, which is why I was successful.”
The ‘Play by the Rules’ website can be found at: www.playbytherules.net.au.
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 0439 673 287
The ads promoting the website ‘Play by the Rules’, which is supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation, Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission, the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian and the Australian Sports Commission, will begin airing on televisions across Queensland tonight.
“These new ‘Play by the Rules’ advertisements send a clear message to parents: Relax, sport should be fun,” Ms Spence said.
“Unfortunately, we continue to witness inappropriate incidents at junior sporting matches, including violence, racism, verbal abuse towards referees and players, win-at-all-cost mentalities from coaches and overbearing pressure from parents on the sidelines.
“The launch of these ads today, is the last layer in a campaign, aimed at discouraging over-coaching and putting a stop to unrealistic expectations being placed on our children.
“Aggressive or negative behaviour on the sports field can easily overflow into other areas of a child’s life – and with the current attention on the prevalence of youth violence, it is essential we look at all ways to prevent such negative behaviour.”
Ms Spence said the state government has provided more than $25,000 for the ‘Play by the Rules’ initiative, including the website which provides valuable information and advice for local sporting clubs.
“We must help kids to be active, so we can fight rising obesity rates and create a lifelong passion for sport and recreation,” Ms Spence said.
“By setting the right examples about enjoying sport and having fun, we can increase the rates of participation among our young athletes – and that is what this campaign is all about.”
CEO of the Australian Sports Commission, Mark Peters, said the Community Service Announcements deliver excellent messages about parental behaviour at kids’ junior sport matches.
“These advertisements cleverly reverse the child and parent roles and are designed to raise awareness and promote discussion about supportive and constructive behaviour in sport,” Mr Peters said.
Acting Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Neroli Holmes, said in the last 12 months the ‘Play by the Rules’ website has received 3.5 million hits, which demonstrates its value in the community.
“This website plays an important role in providing information and advice for sporting clubs about a range of serious issues including child protection, inappropriate touching of athletes, abuse of referees, abusive coaches and parents, racism and dealing with complaints,” Ms Holmes said.
“I believe the message is starting to get out there and more than five thousand sporting clubs have registered to complete on-line-learning programs.”
‘Play by the Rules’ is supported by the Queensland government’s ‘True Sport Lives Here’ program, which helps local sporting clubs promote sportsmanship and good behaviour.
Rugby league legend, Steve Renouf, who is an ambassador for the True Sport program, said players and parents needed to clean up their acts.
“I believe it is important to be a good role model and lead by example. I have five children and would never pressure them to succeed or to follow in my footsteps,” Steve said.
“I want them to play sport because of their love for the game, which is why I was successful.”
The ‘Play by the Rules’ website can be found at: www.playbytherules.net.au.
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 0439 673 287